Guardians Baseball Insider

The Clippers were hot this week, winning four of six from the Detroit Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate the Toledo Mud Hens. Almost everyone on the Clippers’ roster contributed to the team’s success. The offense scored a lot throughout the week, scoring five or more runs in each game except Sunday’s series finale when they were shut out 8-0. This is a great sign for the Clippers who also played well in their last series against the Iowa Cubs. Shortstop Andres Gimenez is this week’s headliner with his six game home run streak. Starting pitchers Logan Allen and Triston McKenzie, who both began the season in the Indians rotation, got starts this week. Neither were perfect but their starts showed promise and gave each young player something to build on. Outfielder Oscar Mercado and Connor Marabell’s bats stayed hot, and Mercado and third baseman Nolan Jones end the week tied for the division lead in doubles with thirteen a piece. The bullpen also pitched well, with relievers earning all four of the Clippers’ wins in the series.

Day-by-Day:

Tuesday, 6/15: Columbus 5, Toledo 4 – W: Garza, L: Carlton
Wednesday, 6/16: Toledo 14, Columbus 10 – W: St. John, L: Herget“
Thursday, 6/17: Columbus 8, Toledo 2 – W: Young, L: Payano
Friday, 6/18: Columbus 7, Toledo 5 – W: Gose, L: Ross Jr., S: Broom
Saturday, 6/19: Columbus 12, Toledo 4 – W: Krauth, L: Pinto
Sunday, 6/20: Toledo 8, Columbus 0 – W: De Jesus, L: McCarty

Player of the Week:

SS/2B Andres Gimenez –

This week fans watched Gimenez’s remarkable streak where he hit home runs in six games in a row. After slugging a homer in the series finale against the Iowa Cubs last Sunday, he homered in five of the six games this week against Toledo. For the week he was 9-26, with five HR, 2 2B, and 11 RBI. Gimenez’s defense is obviously major league caliber, and with each at-bat he is making his case to be the Indians’ shortstop of the future. It is easy to forget the Mets skipped Triple-A for Gimenez, bringing him to the major leagues last year in the middle of the COVID-shortened season. He looked a bit lost for the Indians at the start of the season, but he has found his groove at Triple-A and showed this week why he was the centerpiece of the Francisco Lindor trade. He and Oscar Mercado have combined to provide an excellent 1-2 punch at the top of the Clippers’ batting order.

Who’s Hot:

OF Oscar Mercado – 7-23m, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 8 R, SB

Mercado’s bat continues to sizzle in the month of June. He is putting bat on ball for both power and average and has provided a spark at the top of the Clippers’ lineup. Impressively, he never stops hustling. He runs out every ground ball and is always a base stealing threat no matter the situation. He has played mostly center and left field and plays them both very well. Look for him to get another shot with the Indians if the need arises for an outfielder in the coming weeks.

1B Trenton Brooks – 6-19, HR, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB

Brooks was promoted to Columbus from Double-A Akron after first baseman Bobby Bradley finally got his shot in Cleveland last week. All Brooks has done since his arrival is hit for the Clippers. Brooks, a 25-year old OF/1B, looks up to the challenge of Triple-A pitching, and has fit right in with the Clippers line up so far. He has made the loss of Bradley’s bat in the middle of the lineup easier to deal with and is a big reason for the Clippers’ recent winning streak.

OF Connor Marabell – 8-22, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 3 R

Outfielder Marabell carried his hot series against the Iowa Cubs to an equally hot series against the Mud Hens. Marabell has provided much needed offense near the bottom of the Clippers’ batting order and also played outstanding defense in both left and right field. On Tuesday, he made a spectacular catch against the left field wall, taking extra bases away from the Mud Hens. On Friday night, he made a diving catch on a ball hit to shallow right field, stealing a single from the Mud Hens and helping starter Logan Allen to a 1-2-3 inning.

RP Danny Young

Young secured the win on Wednesday night after going 2.1IP, giving up two hits, striking out four and not giving up a walk or a run. On Saturday he pitched the ninth, giving up a hit, no runs, no walks and striking out two. It was a solid week for Young who is taking on more of a late inning role after veteran Blake Parker was promoted to the Indians a few weeks ago.

RP Justin Garza

Garza has looked outstanding for the Clippers since the Indians promoted him from Double-A Akron on May 7. He pitched 1.1 scoreless innings and earned the win on Tuesday night, when he struck out three and walked one. On Saturday, Garza went another 1.1 IP, giving up two walks but no hits and no runs to the Mud Hens. His ERA now sits at 0.46 since his promotion to Triple-A.

Who’s Not:

INF Owen Miller – 4-21, 5 SO, 6 BB, HR, 2B, 3 R

Far from a total lost week for the infield prospect, Miller had a down week by his standards, notching only four hits in the series. He still slugged a home run and a double, but his batting average fell below .400 for the first time this minor league season. He currently stands at a pedestrian .353 heading into next week. He also committed two errors at second base during Wednesday night’s game.

SP Kevin Herget – In a week where the Clippers’ offense dominated, their starting pitching fell under the radar but was overall a bit underwhelming. Relievers scored the wins in each of the team’s four victories, although starting performances by prized prospects Triston McKenzie and Logan Allen were promising. Herget did not have such luck, earning the loss in Wednesday night’s 14-10 slugfest. Over 4.0 IP, Herget gave up 7 H, 8 R, 6 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, and a HR. Herget was signed after injuries and call-ups hit the Clippers earlier this season. He can hopefully eat some innings for Columbus this summer, but this was not his week.

Transactions:

LHRP Ben Krauth assigned to Columbus from Double-A Akron on 6/16/21

C Ryan Lavarnway called up to Cleveland from Columbus on 6/17/21

C Gianpaul Gonzalez assigned to Columbus from Lake County on 6/17/21

Coming Up:

The Clippers continue their two-week homestand when they start a six-game series with the St. Paul Saints on Tuesday, June 22. The Saints are the Triple-A affiliate of Cleveland’s division rival the Minnesota Twins.

Tuesday, 6/22 – Saints vs. Clippers, first pitch at 7:05 p.m. at Huntington Park in downtown Columbus.

Wednesday, 6/23 – Saints vs. Clippers, first pitch at 705 p.m.

Thursday, 6/24 – Saints vs. Clippers, first pitch at 7:05 p.m.

Friday, 6/25 – Saints vs. Clippers, first pitch at 7:05 p.m.

Saturday, 6/26 – Saints vs. Clippers, first pitch at 7:05 p.m.

Sunday, 6/27 – Saints vs. Clippers, first pitch at 2:05 p.m.